Decorating to sell - any tips?

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I'm selling my house and the estate agent has recommended re-decorating and possibly dressing the house for sale. Does anyone have experience of doing this?

It's a family home that I decorated for renting - it now looks boring and tired. I can see that furniture might help but should I borrow spend money on dressing the house up?

Any suggestions about paint colours to get the best price?

Just a clean, tidy blank canvas. Is it unfurnished? What kind of house is it and what asking price has the EA suggested? If it's a large family home in a competitive market it may be worth redecorating, etc. If it's a starter type home or somewhere likely to appeal to another landlord then it's probably not worth it. As long as nothing is trashed or in urge to need of replacement, just make sure it's clean and the outside space is clean and tidy, fences and gates in good repair and so on.

Just paint it magnolia or white, so it's a blank canvas.

Magnolia paint is the new swirly carpet - I'd seriously avoid it. Grey is very fashionable (and probably the next magnolia) but a pale grey would be good, also pale taupe or just white everywhere. Freshly painted white isn't going to offend anyone.

Isn't "pale taupe" just another way of saying magnolia?

Is it really that bad? I'd just clean like you've never cleaned before, fix and cracks etc, declutter and put it on the market.

Thanks. It's a large family home c £480k - period house but not grand.

I would just have left it empty but both the estate agent and the painter who came to give a quote seemed to think show furnishing it would be worth it.

In terms of paint, I have been looking at the 'What White?' threads. I think something like Crown Soft Linen seems inoffensive.

Anything neutral. I'd avoid 'statement' colours and use accessories for colour. The last house I renovated to sell had a really big bathroom, I painted it cream and used red towels, blinds and bathmat for colour. Lots of people commented on how nice it was. The rest of the house was done in dulux buttermilk. If you are repainting the whole place, I would do the same colour throughout. If you are doing the woodwork, a nice white gloss always makes a place look fresh and clean.

Buy a few buckets of trade white, a white interior reflects the light, makes rooms look bigger and makes the house look clean and fresh.

Clean kitchen and bathroom until they are spotless. Buy a couple of new fluffy towels for the bathroom, and some bunches of daffodils for the kitchen table.

I think it is really worth while putting in a bit of effort. I worked really hard on the days our house was on view, made the house look like it was from a magazine, we ended up with a bidding war and got well over the asking price.

I would just have left it empty but both the estate agent and the painter who came to give a quote seemed to think show furnishing it would be worth it.

Are you surprised by this? Especially a painter you got round to quote for doing the job thinking it was worthwhile?

If it's empty bringing in furniture is a good idea though.

Magnolia walks
Clean skirting/window sills/doors
De clutter-serious de clutter (our house was never in the estate agents photos state unless we were having viewings!
Wipe down all surfaces
Move furniture so all rooms have a purpose and are well spaced
Make sure any original features (stained glass/fireplaces) are easy to see and looking their best

For viewings:
A few vases of fresh flowers
Lamps/lights/lanterns on
Windows slightly open
Heating/fires on
Maybe a couple of strategically placed throws/cushions
Think about any lovely things you have and put them on display-mirrors/candles but hide most of the 'clutter'

Paint it all matt white and declutter everything. Even if they don't like white it provides the perfect base for whatever they wish to add. Leave floors as they are as the new owners may have different taste.

Pale taupe is definitely not magnolia! It's got more grey and yellow, and less pink.

Repair everything you can see that's a bit bashed/loose/snagged etc. Convince buyers the place has been well cared for.

The front garden and entrance door are very important; have clean glass in the door and perhaps a tub of flowers to brighten the path/front garden area. If someone is viewing they must already be happy with the location, price and size, so you are almost there, and if the inside is clean with neutral walls and a few vases of fresh flowers (daffs/tulips are great - cheap and springlike) there can't be much to put them off. The odd bright cushion and lamplight also makes for a comfortable impression.

I'd hate loads of flowers everywhere it sets of allergies so would need to get out asap!

Thanks for replies, some really great advice here.

I should have said that the house is empty and the estate agent described it as 'unloved'. (It has been rented out.) The painter suggested going to IKEA and getting 'wee bits' to put out around the place. I'm not sure if it is worth the investment?

I don't think it's worthwhile buying furniture just to show it, but I would paint and deep clean, make it look as bright and spacious as you can

Do you think it would look weird to half furnish it? Hall and kitchen table with vases of flowers but no beds or sofas?

Truly, I don't know. But isn't the usual advice on property shows to dress it so people can see how they'd use it? Which means, I think, beds and sofas. I'm not sure tables and flowers does the same job - they need to be able to get a sense of where they would sit/sleep and how their major furniture would fit.

Whether it makes financial sense for you to buy these things from Ikea, just to sell the house, I have no idea.

If you don't have beds then put cardboard boxes in shape of bed and put extra large duvet or throws on it - saw that on TV housing programme

Or rent furniture to fill it up

If you have no furniture in it then I wouldn't put furniture in. But I would paint, clean and put some easy house plants/flowers in windows.

With nothing (furniture) cluttering the buyers view they'll be looking at everything closely.

I'd paint and clean

Magnolia can look orange and white can be too stark in some lights so I would avoid. A nice clean off white, like dulux timeless would be better.

I wouldn't half furnish it, I think it's all or nothing really.

I think I will do the suggestion about nice plant pots by the door. And maybe on the kitchen counter.

I would consider renting furniture if I knew where to start. It sounds expensive to do that.